Apple - the new Microsoft

Here's an article that sums up what I've brought up in conversation with a lot of folks over the last few months. I'm sure plenty of others have noticed too:

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=549320

It's interesting how in this country we love to hear sob stories. Suckers from everywhere fawn and sympathize with the "less fortunate". But the moment there's even a shred of success that someone other than ourselves enjoys, we look to tear them down. Success stories should be used to inspire others to bring out the best in themselves. It's a benefit that we receive for being part of the greatest capitalist nation in existence today. Instead we demonize success and wealth. It's incredibly sad and utterly counter productive.

Not that I sympathize with Apple. The reality is that I think they deserve it for going after Microsoft a decade or so ago. Apple should be ashamed of themselves for that. People also have a tendency to respect the principles that benefit them at the time. The moment they no longer work for those same people they become disregarded. Hypocrisy will be forever rampant.

The guy raises an interesting point on the beginning of page 2, but there is a problem with it. No, you aren't forced to buy Apple products because there are plenty of alternatives, But every time Apple sees an alternative that they find to be a direct threat they attempt to sue the creator of it out of existence. That is anti-trust behavior, and it is similar in scope (if not methodology) to the same things Microsoft was doing in the mid-90s.

That brings up another issue that we have with our justice system. The justice system is completely worthless when it comes to protecting principals. Legal battles that start on a principle quickly become battles of who's going to cave in and settle first because it's cheaper. Principles no longer matter. There's plenty of cases that have been heard that completely mock the intent of the justice system. It's become allowed and generally accepted to use the justice system as a business tactic to make things difficult for your competitor. If you can create an legal battle that's completely bogus and drag it in court long enough, whoever has the money to continue the legal battle longer wins. It's disgusting, and unacceptable.